Article 30
By Steven J. Hogan
The Antichrist is coming, and this is the truth, this is what God has planned, this is what He clearly tells us in His Word, and this is surely going to happen. It won’t be long now before this evil and ruthless man will be ruling this world. This Antichrist, this Christ-hater, will unite his diabolical forces in opposing the plans and people of God like no person has ever done before. That’s why it’s imperative that all Christians living in these days of the end times understand what the Bible says about this most wicked man.
This Antichrist, this royal impostor, will not succeed in his plans – he will not win for he is a big time loser, and he will in the end be utterly and totally defeated by God. But with that, we must know that we are winners, that we are victors, that we will overcome all the forces of evil, including this devilish enemy of God, for “greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4b). Revelation 12:10-11, in speaking of our victory over the devil, and therefore of the Antichrist, says it this way, “The accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”
The Bible has a lot to say about the Antichrist, for he will be a key instrument, a critical player in the time before Christ’s return. Therefore, God wants you to know who he is, what he is like, what he will be doing, and that he will be seized, defeated, and then forever punished in the lake of fire. Many passages speak about him – Daniel 7:8-25, 8:9-12, 9:27, 11:36-37; Matthew 24:15; Mark 13:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:3-10; 1 John 2:21-22, 4:3; and Revelation 13:4-18. Since God talks about him so much, then we should desire to know what God wants us to know. And what do we learn from God’s word? That this Antichrist will be proud, arrogant, lawless, evil, powerful, a blasphemer, a slanderer, a destroyer, a deceiver, an impostor, a truth-hater, a liar, a persecutor, a murderer, a devilish man, a Satanist.
There will be a great number of Christians living on this earth when the Antichrist is revealed at the middle of Daniel’s 70th week. Anyone who tells you otherwise is in error and does not understand the truth of the Bible with regards to the general timing of the rapture. 1 Thessalonians 4:15, 17 tells us that the rapture of the church is the first thing to take place at Christ’s coming. Then 2 Thessalonians 2:1-9 tells us that Christ’s coming is after the Antichrist’s coming. Therefore we must conclude that the rapture takes place after the Antichrist’s coming, which means that Christians will be living on this earth during the time of this evil man’s rule. And since the Antichrist is revealed at the midpoint of Daniel’s 70th week, we know that the rapture will take place sometime after the midpoint, at a “day and hour no one knows… but the Father alone.” Matthew 24:36
I say this at the outset because God wants you to know, with certainty, that Christians will be on this earth when the Antichrist is here. That’s why this article about him is so extremely important for you, your family and your friends to understand. Who are you to argue with the truth, to question God’s word, and to object to God’s plans? Might you accept and believe this fact, and be a ready soldier for your Lord during this time of great distress and tribulation. Might you not shrink back and go a.w.o.l., shirking from your responsibility to serve your Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Indeed, it is and will be a high honor and great privilege to be part of God’s special forces, being able to fight for Him during these most difficult days. “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might. Put on the full armor of God, so that you will be able to stand firm against the schemes of the devil. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.” Ephesians 6:10-13
To better understand the Antichrist, we need to see the big picture, which means we need to go back to before this world was ever made. It all began when that “star of the morning, son of the dawn” (Lucifer) became proud, when he wanted to be like God (Isaiah 14:11-15). Lucifer then fell from heaven and became Satan, and has since that time been God’s chief adversary, aided by millions of evil angels who joined him in his fierce and devilish rebellion of creature against Creator. The devil’s work was first seen on earth when he tempted Adam and Eve in the garden, where they sadly succumbed to his temptation, resulting in deadly, universal, and eternal consequences. It was their sin that enabled the devil to take charge of the world, and for the entire earth to come under his power and influence (1 John 5:19). Adam’s sin and disobedience at that time also resulted in all mankind becoming sinners, all mankind becoming children of the devil. Romans 5:12
Since his initial temptation and evil in this world, Satan has continued his wicked work. Uniting with sinful men and women, he has viciously and unrelentingly been fighting against God by fighting against His people. But never forget that it’s only by God’s sovereign hand that Satan has any power at all. Throughout this evil age, since that first sin of Adam and Eve, we have continually seen the devil doing his dirty work, but he has never thwarted God’s purposes and plans. Smallish and sinful Satan never has been a match for almighty and holy God, and therefore he will never succeed in his war against Him in the end-times.
You must realize that Satan has already been defeated. At times it may not seem so, but you have to remember that Jesus Christ conquered the devil at the cross. God’s eternal, complete and crushing victory over Satan, sin and death was realized at that time (Colossians 2:15), and the outworking of the devil’s defeat is now being seen during this church age, and will continue to be seen, leading up to that time when he will finally and forever be cast into the lake of fire. “The seventy returned with joy, saying, ‘Lord, even the demons are subject to your name.’ And He said to them, ‘I was watching Satan fall from heaven like lightning’” (Luke 10:17-18). “The devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Revelation 20:10
Revelation 12 accurately summarizes Satan’s war against God. When you read this chapter, you see that Satan has been, and still is, fiercely fighting against God, but he never wins, he is always defeated. Satan is a loser, a big-time loser, a total loser, the greatest loser this world has ever seen. Yes, it’s true that Revelation 12 describes how Satan has diabolically influenced seven earthly and evil “beast” empires in an effort to keep Christ from carrying out His purposes; but he has never been victorious, he has been beaten every time, he always gets soundly defeated. It was Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Medo-Persia, Greece, the Roman empire, and then Hitler’s Germany. Through God’s just and Christ crucifying work, through the Holy Spirit, through God’s angels and His soldiering saints, Christ’s victory over the devil is assured and will continue to be seen on earth in these years leading up to Christ’s return. I must say it again – this archenemy of God always has been and always will be stopped, defeated, and finally, be destroyed for good.
But in the end times there will be an 8th “beast” empire, and this one will be the most powerful and evil empire this world has ever seen. Again the devil will attempt to prevent God’s purposes from being carried out, and he will be working through this final “beast” empire, one that is led by a man who is actually called the “beast”, but in other verses is referred to as the little horn, the man of lawlessness, or the Antichrist. It is at this time that the devilish work of Satan will be displayed on this earth like never before, for he will be deceptively and wickedly working in and through this evil “beast” of a man, this Antichrist. He will come after the woman, the Jews, but again being thwarted, he will then attack the Christians. Without a doubt, he will be the most unrighteous man this world has ever seen, carrying out Satan’s fiendish work on earth in those last few years before the return of Christ, hopelessly and foolishly fighting against God and His people.
It is God Himself who will raise up the Antichrist for His divine and eternal purposes. But think of it this way – the Antichrist will be like a dog on a leash, and he may feel like he’s free to do whatever he wants, but His Master, the all supreme and sovereign God, will be in complete control, for God will always be reigning, always reining in the devil’s man on earth. It is absolutely essential for Christians who are alive during the time of the Antichrist’s rule on earth to understand God’s ultimate rule, this peace-giving sovereignty of God. “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, ‘For this very purpose I raised you up, to demonstrate my power in you, and that My name might be proclaimed throughout the whole earth.’” Romans 9:17
Let me describe for you what I believe will be the Antichrist’s ascendancy to power. Sometime, and I believe most likely during this 21st century, this future world leader will be growing up and living in either Europe or in the Middle East. He will be a well-educated and very intelligent man, one who is learning both the ways of the world and the ways of the devil. He will be politically inclined, very much aware of the geopolitical condition of the world. He will see that the world is a very unstable and tumultuous place, an earth filled with wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues, economic problems, and death. He will be fully aware of the regional and global conflicts in the world. He will also be well versed in the world’s major religions, and in particular, the one called Christianity. But he will by no means ever become a Christian. Certainly, it will be obvious that he was not chosen by God for salvation, but rather was chosen by God to do the work of the devil. “For God has put it into their hearts (the ten horns) to execute His purpose by having a common purpose, and by giving their kingdom to the beast, until the words of God will be fulfilled.” Revelation 17:17
During this most troubled time on earth, people will be looking for a person to lead the world, to solve the world’s problems, and to bring peace. And so it is, that this wicked and godless man, this future Antichrist, being groomed by the devil, will be rapidly growing in power and influence. But in all this, you must again see that God Himself is sovereignly raising up this evil man to help fulfill His righteous plans in the end times.
It is also during this time that the vast majority of people in the world will be hating the Jews. Antisemitism will be increasing, and if you are alive at this time, you will see that this global hatred of the Jews is much worse than it was during the 1930’s – 1940’s when Adolph Hitler was in power. The time will come when Israel will be completely surrounded by her enemies, and for fear of being wiped out, the Jews will be looking for someone to provide and guarantee them security and protection.
This future Antichrist will prove to be a major player in brokering and confirming a peace agreement between Israel and other nations. The Jews, unbeknownst to them, will then sign a deal with the devil. A most likely and enticing feature of this treaty is that they will be allowed to rebuild their temple in Jerusalem, and again offer sacrifices, something that present day orthodox Jews have been wanting and planning to do for a long time. This treaty will be signed at the very beginning of the 70th week of Daniel, a seven year period of time ordained and designed by God for the testing and purifying of the Jews. It is exactly 7 years later, at the very end of this 70th week, that God will bring about the salvation of a large remnant of these Jews. Daniel 9:24-27, Isaiah 45:17
During the first half of Daniel’s 70th week, problems in our world will greatly increase in intensity, seen in these birth pangs – wars, earthquakes, famines, plagues and economic problems. The need for a person to take control of the world will now be obvious, for at this hour of history, peace is desperately needed on this very disturbed and troubled planet. The Antichrist will continue to grow in power, and it so happens that he and his country will become part of a ten nation block or caliphate, becoming the most powerful kingdom on this earth. Daniel 7:24 says, “As for the ten horns (nations), out of this kingdom ten kings will arise; and another will rise after them, and he will be different from the previous ones and will subdue three kings.” This other king who will rise up after them is the “little horn”, the Antichrist. We read that he will be unique and different than all the others, for he will have immense influence, and that’s because Satan will supernaturally empower him, raising him up for his ungodly purposes. This coming Antichrist will want to be in control, want to be in charge, want to rule the world, and he will then subdue three of the ten kings. At this time, he will be the most mighty man in the world.
Revelation 13 gives us specific details about this devilish man, this Antichrist. It is this chapter, more than any other, that describes the work and character of the Antichrist during his time in power. It says “the dragon (the devil) gave him his power and his throne and great authority.” Then it is written that this evil man will suffer some type of wound, and it will seem to be fatal, but this apparent deadly wound will seem to be miraculously healed. Because of modern day communication the entire world will quickly know this, for we read that “the whole earth was amazed, and followed after the beast.” Revelation 13:4a.
Then we go on to read that no one could stand against him. We read that he spoke proudly, and that he blasphemed God, and spoke out against the Christians. We read that he was given authority for 42 months, for 3 1/2 years. We read that he had the ability to make war against the saints, against the Christians, and to overcome them. We read that he had authority over every tribe, people, tongue and nation – that is, he was ruler of the world, a devilish dictator over the entire earth. We read that he will be worshiped by all the people, that is all the non-elect unbelievers on this earth, those “whose name has not been written from the foundation of the world in the book of life of the Lamb who had been slain.” And we read that his number “is that of a man, and his number is 666.” It is Satan himself who will inspire this man and give him great power, and therefore this Antichrist will, without question, be the worst man, the most wicked man this world has ever seen.
But right in the middle of this chapter, there is a particular instruction given to the Christians. Revelation 13:9 says, “If anyone has an ear, let him hear.” God wants us to listen up, to hear what He has to tell us. In verse 10 He talks about believers going into captivity, and being killed, being martyred. And He says to us, “Here is the perseverance and the faith of the saints.” God is telling us that we will need to persevere, to endure, to be steadfast, to not give up, to not quit, but to keep going for Him until Christ’s return and the church. With perseverance there needs to be faith – we will need to keep trusting the Lord, keep relying on Him, keep believing His promises. This important instruction from our Lord harmonizes with what He says in Matthew 24:13 – “But the one who endures to the end, he shall be saved (raptured),” and with Hebrews 12:3 – “Consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you may not grow weary and lose heart.”
Now we come to the midpoint, the 3½ year mark of Daniel’s 70th week. 2 Thessalonians 2:6-8 tells us that the restrainer of Satan, most likely Michael the archangel, will step aside, allowing this evil devil to have a much greater influence on this earth. At this time it is obvious that Satan has possessed and energized his man on earth, this one we know as the Antichrist. As 2 Thessalonians 2:8-9 goes on to say, this is the coming of the Antichrist, and his coming is before the coming of Christ. Again, this makes it clear that Christians will be living on this earth when this devilish man, this beast, this Antichrist, is revealed for the whole world to see. At this point in time, Jesus Christ has not yet come to rapture the saints, but it will take place very soon, at His coming, sometime during the last half of Daniel’s 70th week.
At this 3½ year mark, this devil-inspired Antichrist will be in Jerusalem and will be revealed and seen for who he really is. 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4 tells us, “the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction, who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship, so that he takes his seat in the temple of God, displaying himself as God.” Both Daniel 9:27 and Matthew 24:15 describe this event as the “abomination of desolation”, that time when this godless, blaspheming, diabolical Antichrist will publicly and proudly take his stand against God, showing forth his true colors. Christians and discerning Jews around the world will see what is happening, and will know that what had been prophesied by Daniel over 2500 years earlier, has finally come true. And now their worst enemy on earth, this God-hater, this Christ-hater, this Christian-hater, this Jew-hater, will be in charge and will be ruling the world.
During this time, and sadly so, there will be a great increase in lawlessness, wickedness and immorality, with the result that unbelievers all over the world will love this lawless man who is letting them do whatever their evil flesh desires. The devil’s goal is for the world to worship this evil man, for in effect, it will then be worshiping him. And so, we read that “they worshiped the beast.” The devil does not now, and will not in the future, want any person to worship Jesus Christ, for he hates and despises Him with the greatest passion – and he will do whatever he can to get the world to worship him, or else. The devil then will get people to worship him by worshiping the Antichrist.
This Antichrist, the first world dictator in modern times, will be a beast, a wicked, powerful, and ungodly man, for he will be anti Christ, against Jesus Christ, and his main purpose will be to usurp Christ’s position as Lord and King. 1 John 2:18 describes him by saying, “Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the Antichrist, the one who denies the Father and the Son.” He will be so deceptive, so slick, and such a smooth talker, and to the unbelievers he won’t seem like he’s a bad person. “There was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies, and authority to act for 42 months was given him.” Revelation 13:5. The world will have never seen such an able and powerful man as this – one who is leading the world politically, militarily, economically, and spiritually. “They (unbelievers) worshiped the beast, saying, ‘Who is like the beast, and who is able to wage war against him?’” Revelation 13:4
Great tribulation will now begin, and it is this Antichrist who will initiate this great persecution against both Jews and Christians. But this tribulation is not wrath. It is brought on by Satan, but is that which is allowed by God. It is Satan persecuting the saints, but the coming wrath is God punishing the sinners. Now this tribulation, this persecution, will start in Jerusalem against the Jews, and then spread out from there to the entire world. This Antichrist will go after all the elect on this earth, those who are true believers and those who will become true believers, both Jews and Christians. “It was also given to him (Antichrist) to make war against the saints and to overcome them.” Revelation 12:17, 13:7
The hatred, persecution and death that the Christians will be experiencing at this time will be much more intense and difficult than they have ever encountered before. Yet, as Christians, we are to still love our enemies, and to lovingly tell them the truth of the gospel. Now most unbelievers don’t want to be told that their sin is wrong, that they are guilty, and that they deserve to be punished. These sinners will love their sin, and therefore will hate the Christians who tell them that they are sinners in need of a Savior. Now I must say that most unbelievers because a few unbelievers will get saved during this tribulation time. Matthew 24:14, 28:19-20
The church has always undergone persecution, and no doubt millions of believers have died for the Lord Jesus in the past 2000 years, but there’s been nothing like what will be taking place during this time of great persecution. This tribulation will be great in scope, because it is all over the world, on every continent, in every country, in every province, in every state, and in every city. This tribulation will also be great in severity – it won’t just be a matter of being thrown in jail and being tortured – it will in many cases result in death, for the Antichrist’s objective is for all believers to be killed, exterminated, and wiped off the face of the earth. Psalm 119:86-87; Matthew 24:9, 21; Revelation 12:17
All over the world the Antichrist and his forces, his armies, his militia, his police, his people, will be chasing after and tracking down Christians, seizing them, persecuting them, and having them killed. Not only that, but many unbelievers will be turning in their own parents or children or brothers or sisters to the Antichrist and his armed forces of evil. Now this may be the hardest part of all, for this will be most heart-wrenching if your own family members, people you loved, people you thought loved you, turn against you and turn you in to the authorities to be killed. And yes, God will enable many believers to escape, and to endure to the end and be saved, that is, be raptured by Christ. It is also true that some unbelievers will not take the mark of the beast, and will not give in to the demands and threats of the Antichrist, and will repent of their sins and become believers in Christ. Matthew 24:9-13, Luke 21:12-19
What about the godless unbelievers? What will they be thinking? What will they be doing? You have to realize that the result of the Antichrist’s rule will be fewer wars, less famines, more economic stability, and a greater calm in the world. People will be getting jobs, getting married, buying and selling, planting and building; and they will be saying “peace, peace,” but this is just a pseudo-peace, for there will be no real peace apart from Jesus Christ. The world, at this point in time, will be absolutely amazed and astounded by the activity of the Antichrist, and so excited to have one so seemingly powerful, wise, and competent, now ruling the world. They will love his character, his personality, his godless ways, and his “freedoms”, and consequently this world will become an even more evil and wicked place. The unbelieving and unrighteous world will be getting an ungodly leader, for this will be just what they wanted, and just what they deserve. Psalm 11
The unbelievers, the followers of the Antichrist, will be strongly outspoken in their hatred towards Jesus Christ and His followers. Emboldened and energized, they will finally have their man, their god, leading this world – and they will love it so. The Bible tells us, “They did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. For this reason God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they will believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth, but took pleasure in wickedness” (2 Thessalonians 2:10-12). These ungodly sinners will reject the truth of God, and so God will send a deluding influence upon them – they will be more deceived than ever before; and this great deception is another reason why they will love the Antichrist, and love wickedness. Their minds will be darkened like never before for “God gave them over to degrading passions… God gave them over to a depraved mind.” Romans 1:26, 28
The Antichrist has a partner joining him in his horrific crimes against the Christians, and he’s another beast called the false prophet. He’s the Antichrist’s assistant, and he will do all he can to get the world to worship the first beast. Revelation 13:12 – “He exercises all the authority of the first beast… he makes the earth and those who dwell in it to worship the first beast.” How will this second beast, this false prophet do this? How will he get people on this earth to worship the beast? How will he further establish the Antichrist’s control over the world? He will do three main things:
First, he will perform great and miraculous signs that are seen all over the world, and the result will be that people are in great awe of him and the Antichrist. People nowadays are so naïve, so gullible and so easily led astray by even little things, little so-called “miracles” that take place on this earth; and in the future, this false prophet will do these amazing wonders and spectacular miracles, but these will only be false signs further authenticating this false leader and his false message.
Second, this other beast will set up an image of the first beast and give life to this image, and people will be told that they need to worship this image or else they will be killed. But how exactly will he do this? We don’t know for sure, but just think about it – in this information age where you have all this incredible technology, I believe this “image of the beast” will somehow be connected to computers, to the internet, and to smart phones. Most everyone in the world, in one way or another, have or soon will have access to the internet. I believe this second beast will require all people to worship the Antichrist via this technology, and then will be able to identify, track down and kill those who don’t worship him. As you probably know, our government is becoming increasingly sophisticated in it’s use of surveillance equipment, phone taps, electronic devices, listening devices, satellites, drones, and hidden cameras, with the result that they are able to monitor people all over the world. They have the ability to quickly locate and track down about anyone in the world, but in the future, this Antichrist’s ability to surveil, to track people, to seize people, will be greatly increased and globally effective.
Third, the false prophet will force people to take a mark on their forehead or hand, and all who don’t take it won’t be able to buy or sell on the open market. The technology to do this is very close to being perfected. We already have what are called embedded chips being used in animals, and even by some people. An individual’s personal, employment, financial and medical information will be on this little rice sized chip that can be placed under his skin. All this will be part of the devil’s plan to exert his control and authority over the world, with the result that God’s people, those who don’t and won’t take the mark, will have a very hard time working, eating and surviving. But do not fear, for God will miraculously take care of His elect during this tribulation time, and those He wants to rescue and rapture from this earth, will by His grace, stay strong to the end. Matthew 6:11 says, “Give us this day our daily bread.” 1 Corinthians 1:8-9 promises us, “He will keep you strong to the end so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
These will undoubtedly be the darkest and most difficult days on earth for the elect, but there is hope, for the Christians will be raptured, and the Jewish remnant will be saved at the end of Daniel’s 70th week. Yet through this entire time we must not forget that God is in control of the Antichrist and the false prophet, and they will only be able to do what God allows them to do. Don’t forget that God is sovereign over your life, as well as over all the people and events on this earth – He will be doing exactly what He wants to do, what is good, just and true, and in line with His purposes. “We know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28, Ephesians 1:9-11
How then should we live for the Lord in these days when the Antichrist is ruling the earth? It is during this time of the Antichrist’s rule that we will need to remember God’s instructions about how we are to live for Him. That is, love God and love one another. Do all that God has commanded you. Preach the gospel and make disciples to the end of the age. Remember the truths about Christ’s coming, and especially that He’s coming very soon. Persevere. Be holy. Have hope. Be faithful to the end, to the rapture of the church. Finally, encourage one another, and all the more, as you see the day of Christ drawing near. Mark 12:30, Matthew 24:14, Matthew 28:19-20, Hebrews 10:25, Hebrews 10:37, 1 Peter 1:13
In these days when the Antichrist will be ruling the world and there’s great persecution, we will need to remember the words from Revelation 6:9-10 – “I saw underneath the altar the souls of those who had been slain because of the word of God, and because of the testimony which they had maintained, and they cried out with a loud voice saying, ‘How long, O Lord holy and true, will You refrain from judging and avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?’ And there was given to them a little white robe; and they were told that they should wait a little while longer, until the number of their fellow servants and their brethren who were to be killed even as they had been, would be completed also.” God will be holy, true and faithful.
Yes, there will be great tribulation. There will be untold and unfettered lawlessness. There will be an intense and global hatred of the Christians, and many of them will experience hunger, confusion, sadness, and at times, loneliness and discouragement. Many will be betrayed by family and church members, and then be taken to ungodly authorities where they will undergo suffering and torture. And yes, many will have the honor of dying for their Lord. “Then they will deliver you to tribulation, and will kill you, and you will be hated by all nations because of My name.” Matthew 24:9, 21; Matthew 10:16-39
And again, what are we to do? We are to keep loving one another, which means even our enemies. We are to have hope. We are to keep believing the promises God has given us about our glorious future, expecting and looking for His soon return. In every situation, in every trial, we are to have faith, to keep trusting the Lord. In Luke 18:7-8 Jesus said, “Will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However when the Son of Man comes will He find faith on the earth.” Might we have faith in our Lord and be faithful to Him. And I remind you to keep praying, “Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven” – Matthew 6:9-10.
These difficult times of great tribulation will only go on for a little while, somewhere, I believe, between one and three years, but of course we don’t know exactly how long, for only God knows the day and hour of His Son’s return. But then suddenly, and hopefully not surprisingly to you, there will be these great signs in the heavens, and the sky will instantly go dark. Then there will be the sign of Christ’s coming, and all believers on earth will see Christ’s magnificent and brilliant Shekinah glory, the sky suddenly being lit up by the glorious return of Christ. Then we will hear the shout of Christ, the trumpet sound and the voice of the angel, and immediately all the saints living on earth will be raptured, joining all the other believers from times past in the skies above this earth, being glorified and then gathered to Jesus Christ, our Lord, Savior and King. Mark 13:27
All Christians living on earth at that time will, by either death or by rapture, be quickly and mercifully delivered from the Antichrist and his persecution. They will be overjoyed, thrilled and ecstatic at what is wonderfully taking place, for they will be forever changed, and forever with the Lord Jesus Christ. But for the unbelievers on earth and the Antichrist too, the day of the Lord will be a sudden and terrifying surprise, for it will come upon them like a thief in the night. One second they will be saying peace and safety, and the next second they will see the skies grow dark, and they will know that “the great day of their wrath has come” (Revelation 6:17). Minutes later, destruction will unmercifully and devastatingly come upon them. First, there will be the Trumpet judgments – fire, hail, water turning to blood, skies turning dark, demonized locusts tormenting everyone, and then 1/3 of the ungodly unbelievers in the world will be suddenly and justly killed. Revelation 8
But the Antichrist and many other unbelievers, by God’s sovereign working, will survive to the end of Daniel’s 70th week, but these hardened sinners still won’t repent and worship God. Their power and influence will have been greatly diminished by this time, but they are still not completely defeated. In fact, Revelation 11:7 tells us that the Antichrist, at the end of the 70th week, will kill two of God’s greatest witnesses, many believing these to be Moses and Elijah.
Then there will be the Bowl judgments, and more darkness, blood and death. The Antichrist and many others will providentially survive this, for God has planned all this out for His purposes and glory. Revelation 19:11-21 describes what will then take place, that Jesus Christ, with great power and glory, will quickly come down from heaven. Riding on a white horse and clothed in a robe dipped with blood, He will come with His heavenly armies to judge and wage war against the Antichrist and his weak and worthless earthly armies. This is the Antichrist’s last battle on earth, this great, Christ glorifying battle of Armageddon.
With Jesus Christ are a great multitude of saints, clothed in fine linen, and they are following Christ on white horses. “And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, ‘King of kings, and Lord of lords.’” Do you see what will be taking place? At this great battle, we will be with Jesus Christ when He comes to earth to finally defeat the Antichrist. And the Antichrist and the false prophet will quickly be seized, at which time they will meet their Maker, and then be thrown alive into the lake of fire which burns with fire and brimstone forever and ever. This greatly deserved everlasting pain and punishment is just beginning for these evil, diabolical and most wicked enemies of God. They will be the first of billions to be cast into this torturous lake of fire, and they will be there all alone in unrelenting torment for 1000 years (Revelation 19:20). Then they will be joined by Satan and all the other unbelievers who have rebelled against God, hated Jesus Christ and rejected the truth of His gospel. Revelation 20:10, 15 – “If anyone’s name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”
What I am telling you is the absolute truth of God – it is not fiction, not fantasy, not a myth, and not a script for some movie – this is straight from the holy and true Word of God. What I’m telling you will most definitely take place. Might you be awake. Might you be alert. Might you be ready soldiers for Christ, serving Him to the very end. And yes, might you be willing to suffer for the Lord. Might you never fear the one who has the power to kill the body, but has no power to kill the soul.
Might you remember the truth of Romans 8:35-39, “Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written, ‘For your sake we are being put to death all day long; we were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.’ But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Might you know and believe this truth, and might it be so deeply embedded in your soul so that you never doubt the Lord’s great love for you. Might you be continually convinced that He is doing what is good, right and true. Then at the perfect time, He will take you from earth to forever be with Him in heaven, and on earth in the ages to come. Amen! Hallelujah! To God be all the glory! Psalms 47, 67, 72; Revelation 22:20 – “Come Lord Jesus”